Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 38
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययं छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्
ūrdhvamūlamadhaḥśākhamaśvatthaṃ prāhuravyayaṃ chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yastaṃ veda sa vedavit
เขากล่าวถึงอัศวัตถะอันไม่เสื่อมสลายว่า มีรากอยู่เบื้องบนและกิ่งอยู่เบื้องล่าง; ฉันทัสแห่งพระเวทเป็นใบของมัน ผู้ใดรู้ต้นไม้นั้นโดยแท้ ผู้นั้นเป็นผู้รู้พระเวท
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Uses the aśvattha-tree allegory to teach Vedāntic cosmology and the role of Vedic chandas as sustaining ‘leaves’; supports contemplative inquiry into the structure of saṃsāra and śāstra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Ūrdhva-mūla aśvattha: cosmic tree with chandas as leaves","lookup_keywords":["aśvattha","ūrdhva-mūla","chandas","veda-vit","saṃsāra-vṛkṣa"],"quick_summary":"The imperishable cosmic aśvattha is described with root above and branches below; its leaves are Vedic metres—knowing this symbolism marks one as a true knower of the Veda."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka
Concept: Saṃsāra as an inverted tree rooted in the transcendent; Vedic revelation (chandas) functions as the manifest ‘foliage’ through which the structure is known.
Application: Contemplate the ‘root above’ (Brahman/Īśvara) and ‘branches below’ (worldly proliferation); use Vedic study (including chandas awareness) as a ladder from appearances to the root-reality.
Khanda Section: Vedanta / Moksha-shastra (Gita-aligned metaphysics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast inverted aśvattha tree floating in cosmic space: roots in a luminous upper realm, branches descending into worlds; leaves inscribed with Vedic metres; a sage points upward, indicating true Veda-knowledge.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, monumental inverted aśvattha with stylized leaves bearing script-like chandas marks, upper realm glowing gold-white, lower realms in layered greens and reds, sage in añjali, ornate temple border patterns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central inverted tree with heavy gold leaf on leaves (chandas), jeweled upper root-lotus, descending branches into miniature world-scenes, embossed gold highlights, devotional-cosmic grandeur","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise illustrative cosmology: inverted tree diagram with labeled chandas-leaves, soft gradients, scholarly sage figure, clean composition suited for teaching metaphysics","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fantastical inverted tree in a night sky with delicate leaf calligraphy, sage and students in a garden terrace observing, fine detailing and layered perspective, subtle luminous root above"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखम् = ऊर्ध्व-मूल + अधः-शाखम् (बहुव्रीहि); प्राहुरव्ययम् = प्राहुः + अव्ययम्; यस्तं = यः + तम्; वेदवित् = वेद + वित्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 380 (Vedānta/Mokṣa-śāstra section)
FAQs
It imparts Vedantic vidyā: a symbolic map of reality where the cosmos (saṁsāra) is pictured as an inverted aśvattha; understanding its structure and dependence on the higher root is presented as true Veda-knowledge.
It shows the Agni Purana’s breadth by integrating Vedic technicality (chandas/metres) with philosophical cosmology, linking textual Veda (metres, hymns) to inner realization (knowing the cosmic tree).
The verse teaches that liberation-oriented insight—not mere recitation—constitutes real Veda-knowing; such discernment supports detachment from worldly branches and orientation toward the higher root (the transcendent).